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Breakdown: SEC lining up impressive QB classes for 2017

Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa

It’s pretty much impossible to build a championship-contending team without a quality quarterback at any level of football. The SEC has produced star quarterbacks like Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford and many more in recent years, and now the conference’s best are on the hunt for the quarterbacks of their future. In this week’s breakdown, we take a look at quarterback recruiting and which SEC teams are doing it the best in 2017.

Alabama Crimson Tide

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Main man: Tua Tagovailoa

Rundown: Tagovailoa might not have been the Tide’s first choice, but the school is very happy to have him in the fold. The talented playmaker hails from the same high school as former Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and possesses an ability to make plays with both his arms and his legs.

Georgia Bulldogs

Main man: Jake Fromm

Rundown: The Bulldogs had Bailey Hockman, another four-star quarterback, committed for quite some time earlier in the process but once the new staff arrived in Athens Fromm became the school’s No. 1 priority. Solidly ranked in the Rivals100, the dual-sport star is also well liked by other marquee recruits. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Georgia add another quarterback in the class, perhaps a late-emerging dual-threat prospect.

LSU Tigers

Main man: Lowell Narcisse

Rundown: The Tigers are the lone program in the conference to have three quarterbacks committed. Narcisse, a Rivals100 prospect, highlights the class and he’s also joined by intriguing three-star prospects Myles Brennan and Jontre Kirklin. The Tigers are likely to have a battle to replace Brandon Harris in the fall of 2018 and are loading up on options.

Florida Gators

Main man: Jake Allen

Rundown: Allen committed to the Gators last summer and has been the headliner of the school’s class ever since. He’s played a major role in recruited and hasn’t wavered one bit from his commitment, making him the perfect ambassador for the school on the offseason circuit.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Main man: Keytaon Thompson

Rundown: The Bulldogs reached into Louisiana to grab the four-star Thompson, who hopes to replicate the success of former Bayou product Dak Prescott. The school offered just one other quarterback in the class, Maryland commit Kasim Hill, and appear to have the man they want in Thompson.

Kentucky Wildcats

Main man: Mac Jones

Rundown: The Wildcats actually have two quarterbacks committed in Jones and versatile athlete Walker Wood, but at this point Jones appears to have the higher upside of the two. He has been offered by programs from all over the country since committing to the Wildcats and looks like he’s going to stay committed despite the renewed interest.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Main man: Daulton Hyatt

Rundown: Hyatt committed to the Razorbacks back in March and has given the school a marquee name in the 2017 class. He chose the school over SEC foes Missouri and Vanderbilt and appears to be a great fit in the school’s offense. The Razorbacks have an offer out to three-star Henry Colombi, but it remains to be seen if they take another quarterback in the class.

Auburn Tigers

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: Narcisse was the Tigers' first choice at the position and while they haven’t totally given up on him, it’s going to be tough to pull him away from his hometown school. Auburn is now weighing several options at quarterback, including current Baylor commit Kellen Mond. The Tigers took two quarterbacks in the 2016 class so missing in 2017 isn’t the worst thing, but with uncertainty at the position it would be ideal to have a big name coming into commit for the job next year.

Missouri Tigers

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: The Tigers have made a run at some of the nation’s best quarterbacks but have so far come up empty-handed. The staff has traveled the country during the spring to evaluate prospects, but has yet to hand out a new offer. Prospects like Justice McCoy and Colombi have been mentioned as potential options.

Ole Miss Rebels

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: After landing the nation’s top quarterback in 2016, it’s not a surprise to see the Rebels having a tougher time landing a big name in 2017. The Rebels missed out on top targets Tagovailoa and Nebraska commit Tristan Gebbia and recently offered Mac Jones. Three-star Texas native Connor Blumrick appears like the most likely prospect to land with the school in this year’s class.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: The Gamecocks are in an unusual position with one-time 2017 four-star Jake Bentley reclassifying to the class of 2016 and enrolling early in Columbia. That put the Gamecocks back on the market for a quarterback in the 2017 class, but no prospects have jumped at the chance yet. Three-star in-state prospect Jay Urich appears to be the school’s main target, but he is also on the radar of several other schools.

Tennessee Volunteers

Main man: No quarterbacks committed

Rundown: At one time the Vols had the nation’s No. 1 quarterback Hunter Johnson committed, but he backed off that pledge and the school is still looking for it’s guy in this class. The school has offered uncommitted four-star Jack Sears, but there’s a chance he elects to stay on the west coast rather than go to school so far from his California home. The Vols are also evaluating Urich and several others during the spring.

Texas A&M Aggies

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: The Aggies had one of the most talked about decommitments to date when Rivals100 quarterback Tate Martell re-opened his recruitment earlier this month. But where do the Aggies go now? Mac Jones picked up an offer and Sears as one as well, but the school will likely continue to look at other options into the summer.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Main man: No quarterbacks committed.

Rundown: The Commodores have offered 13 quarterbacks in the class but have yet to take a commitment, something that is likely to change soon. Uncommitted prospects like Baron Radcliff, Sears, Tayler Katoa, Tyler Lytle, Taylor Powell and Chase Garbers are all viable options, with the staff expected to push for one of them to commit over the summer.

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